A Personal Message
From Dr. Ara Elmajian D.D.S. 

Dear Friends 

It doesn't really feel like spring just yet as I am still enjoying the gifts this winter's El Nina has given us especially in the mountains.

Spring however is just around the corner and it is a great time to start thinking about and planning to do a cleanse, which I would highly recommend. If you have never tried a cleanse, but would like to and don't know how to go about it, our naturopaths, Dr. Jennie Weisenburger or Dr. Melanie MacIver could definitely help you get started. 

For those of you who are more experienced in the cleansing department and would like to take it a step further you might find Sue's article interesting. She recently attended a 14 day intensive detoxification program at a new health retreat on Vancouver Island. She thoroughly enjoyed it and has adopted many of their dietary recommendations into our routine which I am also reaping huge benefits from. You can read her article below.

We are also talking a lot about Oxidative medicine, including Ozone treatments in this newsletter as we have recently incorporated many different applications of utilizing these treatments into our medical and dental clinics. We are very encouraged about the results we are seeing with these therapies.

To learn more about the many different applications of Ozone we are using please read on. 

You can also follow our new Kinetic Patterns blog and Dr. Jeni Lim on Twitter for interesting and informative topics on health.   

Until next time

Ara

Spring Cleansing - Dr. Melanie MacIver 

Regular cleansing is an important part of maintaining health. As the world around us gets more toxic, the burden on our bodies also increases. Not only are there environmental toxins, but now our foods are preserved, colored, flavored, sweetened, and injected with foreign DNA..... so it is important to give our body a break. Spring is a great time to do this and is when the local herbs for cleansing start sprouting.

Eating clean and simple foods takes the burden off the digestive system, allowing the body to focus on clearing toxins. This process can be supported with herbs and remedies. You can expect benefits such as weight loss, more energy, improved skin, less allergy symptoms, better digestion, joint or muscle pain decreasing, and just feeling better.

There are many cleanses that are extremely beneficial and generally well tolerated. Just choose your favorite! Some examples are a short juice fast, the brown rice diet, eating only fruits and veggies for a week, or just avoiding the top allergens wheat, dairy, sugar, eggs, etc. Following a cleansing diet while taking remedies is recommended for maximum cleansing effect, but there are still benefits to just taking the cleansing remedies, or just following the diet. Some people report minor reactions in the first few days, as their body adjusts and toxins are processed. Symptoms, if any, are mild, and rarely last more than a few days. Just stick with it, you are going to feel great!!!

Breaking your cleanse is very important too, make sure you do this gently no matter which cleanse you choose. If you binge the day your cleanse ends, the benefits will be reduced. Other things you can do at home to accelerate the cleansing process are: juicing, whey protein, saunas, lymph brushing, hydrotherapy, and Epson salts.

If you would like more information on cleansing, or beneficial cleansing herbs and remedies, come in for a quick naturopathic consultation and start feeling great now.

A Fresh Start - Susan Elmajian 

Last November I participated in a 14 day full body detoxification program at a health retreat aptly called Fresh Start. The retreat had recently relocated to a beautiful ocean front property on Vancouver Island. 

It was not the sort of program I might have fancied myself doing in my 20's or 30's and I acknowledge that it might not be for everyone. However, the raw food cuisine, juice fasting, detox spa services, early morning yoga and meditation was exactly what my 56 year old and somewhat beat up body needed. I loved it! Well love might not be exactly the right word to describe my 6 colonic treatments but overall it was a very positive experience. 

My friend who attended this retreat almost a year ago still maintains that this program has been life altering for her and I am very thankful she shared her experience with me.

Fresh Start offers 5, 10 and 14 day detoxification programs. The owners and facilitators have a passion for helping people find better health. They bring a sincere and personal touch to their retreats. They truly want participants to be able to assimilate what they have learned and experienced at Fresh Start into their real lives.  

They highly recommend preparing for the retreat two weeks prior by following a preprogram itinerary in order to reap the full benefit from the program. Ara decided to join me in this and after only a few days we both noticed changes in our energy levels. This I attribute to the addition of green smoothies (with actual greens - spinach, kale, chard etc) every morning along with a few other dietary changes. After 2 weeks of this we were both feeling great and I was very much looking forward to the retreat. 

A typical day at Fresh Start commenced at 7:00 am and finally finished around 8:00 pm with a busy schedule of yoga, isotonic drinks, group time, juices, health lectures, fantastic walks on the beach, more juice, health videos, wheatgrass shots, NAP time (a personal favorite) cooking lessons, more juice, colonics, massages, steam baths, saunas, meditation and did I mention the JUICE! It was exhausting and rejuvenating all at the same time. We were all learning that on a deep cellular level we were doing something very good for our health.  

People seek out Fresh Start for a wide variety of health reasons ranging from wanting to lose a few pounds to very serious conditions such as cancer and a whole spectrum in between.   

The hotel (Ocean Resort) and surroundings were very peaceful and invigorating. It perfectly reflects and supports the healing aspects of Fresh Start's philosophy. During the program there was ample time to be alone and to reflect on one's life and changes that may be necessary. Ocean Resort provided a conducive atmosphere for just that.  

I lost a total of 10 pounds, felt energized, rested, inspired and full of new raw food ideas to try at home. Although I don't profess to be a raw foodist or even a vegetarian, I have been convinced to incorporate much more raw food into our diets, cut back on animal products and add fresh squeezed alive juices including wheatgrass to our regime. The retreat also reinforced for me the importance of integrating regular stress reducers like yoga, hypnosis/meditation and walking next to the ocean into my life.   

I would recommend Fresh Start to anyone who was serious about taking detoxification, for whatever reason, to another level. In my opinion it would be difficult to replicate and carry out this intense program at home. The benefits for me have been far reaching in that I now know what to do even when I get sidetracked.

The beauty of the whole package of the retreat and the setting is that for 5, 10 or 14 days it's all about YOU!  

For much more detailed information regarding Fresh Start Health Retreat check their website. 

Naturopathic Lecture "Hormone Balancing for Women"                    

                  Dr. Melanie MacIver N.D. 

Kinetic Patterns Clinic  603 - 805 West Broadway, Vancouver

March 24, 2011   7 - 8 pm

Free of charge

Call Bonnie to reserve: (604) 876-1150

Oxidative Medicine: Using Ozone for Health and Healing - Dr. Jennie Weisenburger

Healthy cells rely on oxygen to function.  The body's demand for oxygen is greater than any other substance.  A majority of illness's have oxygen deprivation as a significant contributing factor.  Oxidation is a naturally occurring chemical process where electrons are lost.  Reduction is just the opposite, where electrons are gained, and compounds that make this happen are referred to as antioxidants.  In order for us to survive, a healthy balance of Oxidation and Reduction needs to be in place.   Oxidative processes are those that allow the body to gain energy...our cells use glucose to make the fuel and this is an oxidative process.   Oxidative medicine includes the application of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, UV blood irradiation and High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C.

 
Ozone is made when oxygen is electrically activated combining a third oxygen molecule to form 03 or Ozone.  If you ever notice the refreshing, clean smell in the air after a lightening storm, the fresh scent coming from someone who has been outdoors exercising, or the refreshing smell of a newborn baby...you are familiar with ozone.   Ozone lasts about 45 minutes at room temperature before breaking down into oxygen.  We can extend this by simply cooling it down, as we do when we prescribe ozonated water or the ozonated olive oil,  Ozone is toxic if inhaled in large quantities as it is an irritant to the eyes, nose, lungs and all mucous membranes (those which have minimal antioxidant and neutralizing capabilities).
 

Ozone releases oxygen into the blood stream and can also:
 

  - Reduce environmental toxin load in the blood
  - Greatly enhance circulation
  - Stimulate oxygen metabolism and delivery to tissues
  - Activate the immune system
  - Inactivate viruses, bacteria and fungal organisms
  - Stop cancer cell growth 

There are many different applications of ozone therapy that include:

Ozone therapy is indicated for both acute and chronic conditions.  Examples of acute conditions include viral, bacterial and fungal infections, painful injuries and inflammations. 

Chronic conditions where ozone is indicated include:

 
Healing from Cancer, Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lung infections, HIV and AIDs, Hepatitis, Osteoarthritis, Allergies, Headaches, Cerebral vascular disease, Cardiovascular disease, Pulmonary disease, Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Gangrene, Raynaud's disease, Chronic pain

For more information about ozone therapy, please visit our website or call or email our office. 

Patient Testimonial re: Ozone Treatment 

As mentioned in the above article on Oxidative Medicine there are so many different applications for using ozone treatments and the results are very encouraging please read on... 

"In November 2010 I went to see Dr Jeni Lim regarding a painful rash that had developed in both my armpits over the recent weeks. When I showed Dr. Lim she suspected it was a fungal infection and suggested ozone injection treatments.  Within 3 days of starting treatment we noticed a 50% reduction in the pain and irritation the rash was causing. After the second treatment (a total of 6 days since treatment began) the rash was no longer painful or irritating.  After only 5 treatments, over a span of 15 days, the rash was totally gone. My thanks to Dr. Lim and the entire staff at the clinic, their approach and care to helping people heal is greatly appreciated. It is a gift to live close to this world-class clinic."

David Westdrop  - January 2011

Ozone in Dentistry

Ozone (O3) has many applications in dentistry. It can kill bacteria, fungus and viruses, which are often found in the mouth. This is especially exciting in light of recent discoveries regarding potentially harmful microorganisms present in the biofilm (plaque) in the mouth. 

The two main methods we use to deliver ozone in the mouth are 1) in the form of ozone gas and 2) a concentration of ozone infused into water. Ozonated water (to ingest or rinse with) and ozonated olive oil can also be used.  

Periodontal Disease 

During dental hygiene appointments, suspicious periodontal pockets that are difficult to access are irrigated with ozone to kill harmful microorganisms. This will not only help to prevent periodontal disease but also the possibility of systemic health conditions related to it. 

Oral Surgery 

We routinely sterilize surgical sites such as extractions, implants and cavitations (jaw bone infection sites) with ozone to promote healing and prevent future infection.  

Root Canals 

Flushing the canals of a tooth prior to a root canal is an advancement that has the potential for eliminating serious infection in and surrounding the jawbone of the affected tooth.  This could prevent the failure of root canals and the resulting health issues due to infection we have often seen in the past.   

Dental Unit Water Lines 

We are utilizing the same philosophy of sterilizing our dental water lines with ozone as we are using to address harmful microorganisms in the mouth. 

The combination of identifying specific bugs in the mouth that could be harmful and the use of ozone to help eliminate those bugs has far reaching positive dental and health benefits for our patients.  

To read more about biofilm please read our Spring 2010 newsletter or full article written by Dr. Elmajian.